First responders surprise 100-year-old

By STACY L. NEITZEL
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW October 10, 2007 07:32 pm

— Around two dozen first responders were on hand Monday to help celebrate Nell Johnson’s 100th birthday.
Johnson’s grandson, Jeff Thompson, a sergeant at the Glasgow Fire Department, invited all first shift fire department personnel to his grandmother’s birthday party, along with two EMS crews at the Barren-Metcalfe Ambu-lance Service.
Fifteen employees of the Glasgow Fire Department, including Glasgow Fire Chief Bobby Bunnell, Johnson’s one time neighbor, joined in the celebration.
“We had a pretty good little turnout. We’re like one big family anyway, but they all thought it was pretty special she was turning 100,” Thompson said about his comrades.
His grandmother, whose birthday was actually on Thursday, was shocked when guests began arriving by fire truck and ambulance.
“She was kind of surprised and tickled too,” Thompson said.
Johnson has seen countless changes take place over the past century and has been a witness to important historical events during her lifetime. Thompson recalls her telling stories about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and American Neil Armstrong making history as the first man to walk on the moon.
She has watched as numerous presidents presided from the White House over the country.
“She’s been through a lot and seen a lot,” Thompson said.
Johnson’s secret weapon for living to be a ripe old age, according to her grandson? “She thought coffee and Bufferin would fix just about anything,” Thompson laughs, adding she seldom went to the doctor and has only been hospitalized twice.
Johnson has one daughter, two grandchildren, four great grandchildren and two great great granddaughters.

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